GCSE Psychology 9-1

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  7.2.2 - Van Houtte and Jarvis (1995) The Role of Pets in Preadolescent Psychosocial Development: Aims - To investigate the impact of pet ownership on adolescent personality provided evidence in terms of self-esteem and a more positive self-concept. Procedures -  130 pupils aged 8-13 white american, divided into two groups, pet owners and non pet owners and then matched on marital status, wealth and siblings. Results - 1. Higher self esteem was reported in pet owners than non pet owners. 2. 11 years old with pets had more positive self concept. 3. Higher autonomy was reported by pet owners of all ages. Conclusions -  Pet owning adolescents would report higher levels of autonomy and self esteem than non pet owners. Pets provide unconditional positive regard for pet owners.  Strengths - The results of the experiment were content with the hypothesis. Well known scales were used which is a reliable way of measuri...

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  7.2.1 - Vohs and Schooler (2008) The Value of Believing in Free Will: Encouraging a Belief in Determinism Increases Cheating - Aims -  To investigate whether inducing participants to believe that human behaviour is predetermined would encourage treating. Procedures -  In experiment 1: Participants read either text that encouraged a belief in determinism (i.e that behaviour is the result of environmental and genetic factors) or neutral test. Results - In experiment 2: Participants who read determinism text cheated by overpaying themselves for performance on a cognitive task, participants who read free will did not. Participants in the anti-free will condition reported weaker free will beliefs than the other participants in the control condition. Conclusions -  The more participants endorsed statements of free will, the less they paid themselves.

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  7.1.6 - Understand the use of trait theory as a measure of personality, including strengths and weaknesses of trait theory: b) Allport (1936) cardinal, central and secondary personality traits - In 1936 allport found that one English dictionary alone contained more than 4,000 words describing different personality traits. He categorised these traits into three levels. Cardinal Traits - These are traits that dominate an individuals whole life, often to the point where an individual becomes known specifically for these traits. These are rare and tend to develop later in life. Central Traits - These are general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality. These central traits, whilst not as dominating as cardinal traits, are the major characteristics you might use to describe another person. Terms such as 'intelligent', 'honest', 'shy' and 'anxious', are considered central traits. Secondary Tr...

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  7.1.4 - Understand the role of internal and external influences on the self and self-esteem, including: a) temperament -  Your temperament permanently effects your behaviour and in a big way. It may determine the nature of the situations you get yourself into and how you react to them and what effects they have on you. Your temperament also effects your self esteem. b) Experience - Experiences shapes the way you think about the world and yourself as it shapes your schema. It is not just dependent on experience alone its how you perceive these experiences and whether you learn from them or not. Childhood experiences shape our base schemas and temperament as this is where we develop most of our understanding of things.

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  7.1.1 - Understand the concepts of the self and self-concept, including: Lewis (1990) a) Existential Self -  The sense of being separate and distinct from others and the awareness of the constancy of the self. Begins as early as 2-3 months old. b) Categorical Self -  Having realised that they are a separate entity, the child now becomes aware that they are an object in the world and that they have properties too. Rogers (1959) c) Self Image -   How we see ourselves, important to good mental health. d) Self Esteem - Self esteem (or self worth) comprises what we think of ourselves. e) Ideal Self - This is the person who we would like to be. It consists of our goals or ambitions. f) Self-Actualisation -  When someones ideal self is congruent with their self image. g) Congruence -  When a persons ideal self and actual experience are very similar. h) Incongruence -  When a persons ideal se...